Seven Cheapest Cities for a Fourth of July Getaway - East Idaho News
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Seven Cheapest Cities for a Fourth of July Getaway

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GETTY B 062512 LasVegas?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1340640954051Comstock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Gas prices are going down, down, down.  ABC News reported gas prices in 16 states have dropped to under $3 per gallon and that more are expected to drop under that price point in the coming days.

And with the Fourth of July holiday just one week away, families that previously decided to stay home may be reconsidering.

“Low gas prices light a fire under Americans. They really like low prices.  This is sure to entice more people to go on vacation and spend more of their hard-earned money,” Patrick Dehann of GasBuddy.com told World News.

A road trip is surely the way to go at this late date.  As ABC News reported, the weekends sandwiching the Fourth of July — a Wednesday this year — are some of the most expensive of the summer to fly.

But with just days to plan a trip, where should travelers go?  Visiting a city with too-high hotel prices will cancel out any fuel savings.  Online travel agency Orbitz.com found hotel rates vary widely among cities in the top 25 destinations this upcoming holiday, from over $200 per night on average in the most expensive cities (Boston and Los Angeles) to just $99 per night in the least expensive city (Las Vegas).

Las Vegas consistently has some of the nation’s cheapest rates because hotels lower room prices to attract travelers and hope to make money from them in other ways, namely, gambling, food and alcohol.

If driving to Sin City isn’t an option, here are the six next-cheapest cities for a last-minute July 4 getaway, based on hotel rates:

  • Arlington, Va.: $104
  • Atlanta: $108
  • Orlando, Fla.: $109
  • San Antonio: $112
  • Anaheim, Calif.: $119
  • Miami: $122

One more tip: According to Orbitz, vacationers are favoring the first part of the July 4 week for their trips.  It found that 57 percent of room nights that have been booked are for stays between June 29 and July 5, while only 43 percent are booked for stays between July 3 and July 9.  Cost-conscious travelers should book a trip for the latter half of the week, as fewer travelers always translates into lower prices.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

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